In general, 2014 was a year of increase among the biggest general contractors in Arkansas. Eighteen out of 32 firms that reported updated revenue figures for the largest commercial contractors list recorded year-over-year gains.

The opening of CARTI’s $90 million cancer center in the fall of 2015 can’t come soon enough for CARTI President and CEO Jan Burford. In December 2011, the nonprofit CARTI was treating about 3,000 patients a year. CARTI then began adding doctor groups, and it is now seeing about 20,000 patients annually, Burford said.

Greg Williams, the new CEO of Nabholz Construction Corp. of Conway, thinks the construction industry is ready to grow. "The pent-up demand is there and it’s starting to come out," says Williams, who became CEO on Jan. 1 succeeding Bill Hannah, who is now chairman.

The dollar tally of large construction projects throughout the state declined in a big way during the past 12 months. The total value of the biggest commercial jobs dropped from more than $1.4 billion in 2012 to about $1.1 billion this year.

The Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa in Hot Springs has been recognized by ConventionSouth, an event planning magazine, with two awards: the 2012 Readers’ Choice Award and the New or Renovated Meeting Site Award.